Warming Congealed Fat

Q. I would like to warm up a pan of chicken by placing it on top of a cholent pot. Right now, the pan of chicken is dry, but as soon as it heats the congealed fat will melt and become a liquid. Is this allowed?

A. This hinges on an interesting question. As previously noted, it is permissible to reheat fully cooked dry food (provided it is done in a manner that does not have the appearance of cooking), but it is forbidden to reheat liquids that have cooled. How do we view fat that melts and turns to liquid when heated - as a solid, which is the original state, or as a liquid, which is what it becomes? From Shulchan Aruch (OC 318:16) it is clear that we treat the fat as a solid, because the Shulchan Aruch rules that one may heat a fully baked meat knish on Shabbos by placing it near a fire, even though the fat will melt when heated. (One may not put it on the fire as this will give the appearance of cooking but placing it near a fire is permitted.) Mishnah Berurah (318:100) explains that since the fat was solid when it was placed near the fire, it has the status of a dry item, and we apply the rule of “ain bishul achar bishul bidavar yavesh” (the prohibition of cooking does not apply to dry cooked foods). Rema, however, writes that unless there is a pressing need, this should not be done. Although Rema agrees that there is no violation of bishul (cooking on Shabbos), nonetheless, melting fat and changing it from a solid to a liquid state is a melacha of “molid” (creating something new) which is Rabbinically prohibited on Shabbos. Mishnah Berurah notes that the prohibition of molid applies only when the fat melts and there is an accumulation of liquid. If a small amount of fat melts and moistens the food, there is no concern.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.